Eco-protesters disrupt US Open match, immobilize with glue.
Environmental Protesters Disrupt US Open Semi-Final Match
In a bold and attention-grabbing move, three environmental protesters caused a major disruption during a semi-final match at the US Open. The protesters, one of whom even glued his bare feet to the floor, halted the match for approximately an hour as they passionately chanted “end fossil fuels.”
The protesters, consisting of two men and one woman, donned shirts emblazoned with the words “end fossil fuels” and the logo of the extremist group “Extinction Rebellion.” Their demonstration took place during the second set of the match between American Coco Gauff and Karolína Muchová from the Czech Republic. Despite the interruption, Gauff managed to maintain her focus and ultimately emerged victorious with a 6-4, 7-5 win.
“We are not trying to harm the athletes in any way,” one of the protesters later clarified. “We have nothing against the sport, but we are really trying to draw attention to an issue here that there will be no tennis left for anybody in the world to enjoy.”
Unsurprisingly, the protesters’ actions frustrated Gauff, who questioned why officials were engaging in negotiations with them. She likened the situation to a “hostage situation,” expressing her exasperation. Gauff’s coach, Brad Gilbert, even exclaimed, “This is a joke,” according to the Daily Mail. The crowd, clearly displeased with the disruption, booed the protesters and hurled insults as they were escorted away by the New York Police Department. However, the crowd also cheered for the NYPD upon their arrival.
“It was a bit challenging because, you know, it’s not like a typical delay,” Gauff shared after the match. “So we didn’t know how long it was going to take. We were talking to the supervisor and security. You know, they could say it could be as quick as five minutes or as long as an hour. It was tough to figure out if we stay warm or conserve energy. … But, you know, it’s life. It happens. So I just try my best to keep the momentum that I had going from winning the first set and the first game.”
Despite the disruption, Gauff maintained a level-headed perspective, acknowledging the protesters’ right to express their beliefs. She recognized that their demonstration was carried out peacefully and refrained from harboring anger towards them.
“I always speak about preaching about what you feel and what you believe in,” Gauff continued. “It was done in a peaceful way, so I can’t get too mad at it. Obviously, I don’t want it to happen when I’m winning, up 6-4, 1-0, and I wanted the momentum to keep going. But hey, if that’s what they felt they needed to do to get their voices heard, I can’t really get upset at it.”
While the disruption was undoubtedly an inconvenience, Muchová expressed her desire to stay warmed up and not simply stand idle during the delay. Gauff, on the other hand, anticipated such an incident, as similar disruptions had occurred during the French Open and Wimbledon. She acknowledged that moments like these are historically significant, even though she would have preferred it not to happen during her match.
“I just was hoping it wasn’t in my match, and honestly, I thought we made it through. … But it is what it is. I think that, you know, moments like this, yeah, are history-defining moments. Like I said, I prefer it not to happen in my match, but I wasn’t pissed at the protesters. I know the stadium was because it just interrupted entertainment.”
Despite the disruption, the match continued, and Gauff’s resilience prevailed. This incident serves as a reminder that even in the world of sports, important issues can take center stage and demand attention.
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